Hyatt Reveals New Americas Organization Structure and Appointments

CHICAGO — Hyatt has revealed new senior-leadership appointments in the Americas region and sub-regional structure to further enhance the company’s growth, operational excellence and performance optimization within its largest region. With this new structure, Hyatt’s Americas region is now comprised of two sub-regions — U.S. & Canada and Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC), led by two newly appointed sub-regional presidents, Susan Santiago and Gabriel Felip, who both report to Pete Sears, group president, Americas.

In her new role, Santiago is responsible for the growth and performance optimization of Hyatt’s owned and managed portfolio. She’s in her 32nd year with Hyatt and has held numerous positions leading operational performance, most recently as SVP of Hyatt’s Lifestyle Division and Miraval brand.

As president, LAC, Felip leads operational performance for all managed and owned Hyatt hotels in the region across all brands, including Hyatt’s Inclusive Collection. Felip has more than 30 years of hospitality and tourism experience and previously served as Hyatt’s group president of Inclusive Collection Global Operations.

“Our new Americas structure enables us to further support our hotel teams and owners in more customized, regionalized ways – and this is designed to help us continue driving strong results through intentional and sustainable growth for the region,” says Sears. “With these changes, we continue our momentum in positioning Hyatt as the preferred hospitality brand, delivering meaningful and memorable experiences for guests and driving results for our owners.”

Included in the new sub-regional structure are three newly created roles within the operations, commercial services and finance functions. Yvette Martinez-Edwards has been promoted to SVP, Field Operations, Luxury & Miraval; Shyla Gardner re-joins Hyatt as VP, Commercial Services, LAC; and Juan Pablo Puerta now serves as SVP, Finance, LAC.

Previously, Martinez-Edwards served as VP of Field Operations where she led a group of full-service Timeless Collection properties in the east region; Gardner acted as VP of Sales & Marketing for Playa Resorts and served as an area director of Sales & Marketing in Mexico for Hyatt; and Puerta served as the CFO of Apple Leisure Group.